Loader and unloader apparatus

ABSTRACT

A loading and unloading apparatus has a first frame attachable to the underneath side of such as a camper. Another frame is secured to a vehicle bed to guide the camper into a loaded position thereon. A winch apparatus mountable on the rear of the vehicle bed has a winch block which engages a rope, calbe or chain which is secured to the first frame fore and aft. In operation the winch moves the rope, cable or chain thereby moving the camper relative to the vehicle bed which moves it into a loaded position on the truck bed, or in a reverse operation removes it from the vehicle bed to an unloaded position.

Youngers Oct. 30, 1973 LOADER AND UNLOADER APPARATUS [76] Inventor:Gerald P. Youngers, R.R. 1, Viola,

Kans. 67149 22 Filed: Dec. 6, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 205,025

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,221,913 12/1965Chamberlain 214/517 1,341,197 5/1920 Reynolds 214/516 X 3,217,91411/1965 Aldropp.... 214/516 3,521,776 9/1970 Talbot 214/516 3,262,5917/1966 Aldropp 214/517 Primary Examiner-Albert .1. Makay Attorney-John JWiddowson [57] ABSTRACT A loading and unloading apparatus has a firstframe attachable to the underneath side of such as a camper. Anotherframe is secured to a vehicle bed to guide the camper into a loadedposition thereon. A winch apparatus mountable on the rear of the vehiclebed has a winch block which engages a rope, calbe or chain which issecured to the first frame fore and aft. In operation the winch movesthe rope, cable or chain thereby moving the camper relative to thevehicle bed which moves it into a loaded position on the truck bed, orin a reverse operation removes it from the vehicle bed to an unloadedposition.

6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEUUCT 3 0 I973 SHEET I UF 4 INVENTORGERALD P. YOUNGERS I I I I l I l l I I I I I I I I I l I I I I I I I l lI I I I l J PAIENIEUIIBI 30 an SHEET 2 [IF 4 INVENTOR GERALD F. YOUNGERSPAIENIEUHcI 30 I975 SHEET Q 0F 4 INVENTOR GERALD P. YOU NGERS LOADER ANDUNLOADER APPARATUS Numerous camper handling devices are known in theprior art which are adapted to move campers from a storage position onthe ground, on a rack or on other supports onto the bed of a pickuptruck OfOlhfil'iiIUCk bed for their use; however, these prior artdeviceshave several inherent disadvantages which make them undesirable.Generally, the prior art camper handling devices rely on the camperbeing stored in .a'raisedposition a substantial distance above theground, either supported on an auxiliary frame or othersupportingstructure or on some extendable leg type structure attached to thecamper and extendable when .it is removed or to be removed. The priorart devices which rely on using the structure to support the camper instorage have the disadvantage of requiring additional structure to bemounted with thecamper to attach the legs or having the legs directlymountable on the camper structure. Inany event, the camper is stored ata relatively high position which is inherently unstable and isundesirable for safety reasons. The other camper handling devices storethe camper low to the ground and rely on an auxiliary frame attached tothe camper on which wheel or short leg assemblies are attached in orderto support the camper when in the unloaded position. Normally, thesetypes of devices require the use of two winch type devices or a singlewinch using'two cables or the like to lift and move the structure fromthe storage positiononto the truck bed-so that it can be pushed to theloaded position.This dual winch type apparatus is generally notdesirable because of the inherent complicated mechanical apparatus andthe inconvenience of having two cables or the like to guide and keepfrom tangling.

In one preferred specific embodiment of the camper loading and unloadingapparatus of this, invention, a device is provided having a guidingframe attachable to a truck bed adapted to engage a second frameapparatus mountable on the underneath side of a camper or the likehaving a winch apparatus with a winch block mountable on the rear bedportion of the truck toengage and move a chain that is secured to thesecond frame and positioned underneath the camper. The guiding frame hasa pair of spaced rails forming a track which is mounted on each side ofthe truck bed extending upward and rearward from the forward portion ofthe truck bed. The second frame has forward and aft members secured tothe camper structure supporting between them the chain and havingelongated members on the side of the frame structure connecting theforward and aft transverse members on the lower edge portion of thecamper. The winch apparatus has a winch block and plurality of rollerssecurable to the rear of the truck bed, with the winch block positionedin alignment with the chain and having a passageway therethrough to passthe chain and its second frame connecting member. The winch block has asprocket rotatably mounted therein to be turned by the'powering devicewhich is connected to it by a shaft.

In operation the camper loading and. unloading apparatus of thisinvention is adapted to load a camper onto a truck bed from a storagepositionon the ground by using the winch to pull the chain and raise theforward end of the camper onto the rear of the truck bed into contactwith the rollers and further use the chain to move the camper forwardthrough the guiding and supporting frames to a loaded position on thetruck bed.

The camper loading and unloading apparatus also is adapted to remove thecamper from the truck bed via the winch apparatus and to place itdirectly behind the truck in a storage position which is close to theground.

One object of the camper loader and unloader apparatus of this inventionis to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior artdevices.

Another object of the camper loader/unloader apparatus of this inventionis to provide a device to load and unload campers or like objects whichhas a winch assembly and a winch block secured to the truck and adaptedto pass a chain, rope, or the like which is secured to the camperthereby loading and unloading the camper.

Yet another object of the camper loader and unloader apparatus of thisinvention is to provide a camper loading and unloading device having aframe attached to a truck bed to engage another frame that.

is attached to a camper and is used to guide the camper onto the truckbed to a loaded position and secure it to the .truck bed.

Still, another object of the camper loader and unloader apparatus ofthis invention is to provide a camper loading and unloading deviceusable with a truck having a winch assembly with a winch block that issecured to the truck bed to be positioned underneath the camper andwhich has a sprocket therein rotated by a powering device and having apassageway therein to pass and move a chain attached to a camper to loadand unload the camper.

Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the followingdiscussion, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a pickup and camper shown in dashedlines in the loaded position with the camper loader and unloaderapparatus of the invention shown in solid lines;

:FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a camper and rear portion of apickup truck shown in dashed lines, having the camper loading andunloading apparatus shown in solid lines with the camper positioned onthe rear portion of a truck bed with the forward end of the camper framejust ahead of the winch assembly;

FIG. 3 isa top plan view of the camper loader and unloader apparatus asshown and positioned in FIG. 2;

.FIG. 4 is a rear end elevation view of the pickup .truck with thecamper removed showing the winch ap- .paratus;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the rear bed portion of the truck and theforward end portion of the camper positioned with the camper immediatelyaft of the winch block assembly;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the truck bed taken just ahead ofthe winch block assembly, looking aft with the camper positioned at thewinch block assembly showing the chain attaching member in the winchblock passageway;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the winch block alone takenfrom above and from the normally rearward side thereof; and

FIG. 8 is an elevation view of one-half of the winch block assemblyhaving a chain segment and the sprocket therein in the operationposition.

The following is a discussion and description of preferred specificembodiments of the camper loader and unloader apparatus of thisinvention such being made with reference to the draings, whereupon thesame reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar partsand/or structure. It is to be understood that such discussion anddescription is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

Referring to the drawings generally and in particular to FIG. 1, suchshows the camper loader and unloader apparatus of this invention with acamper, generally indicated at 10, loaded on a pickup truck, generallyindicated at 12, connected by the camper loader and unloader apparatusof this invention, generally indicated at 14. Components of the camperloader and unloader apparatus 14 are best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. Thecamper loader and unloader apparatus 14 has a truck mounted frameassembly 16 which is mounted in the bed portion of the pickup truck, acamper frame assembly 18 to be mounted on the lower portion of a camper,and a winch assembly 20 to be mounted on the rear end portion of thetruck bed.

The truck mounted frame assembly 16 has a pair of guiding tracks 22 withone positioned on each side of the truck bed spaced slightly wider thanthe inserting lower portion of the camper. Each of the guide tracks 22has an upper rail member 24 and lower rail member 26 both of which aresecured at the forward end of the guide track, as indicated at 28, andextend in a straight relation to an apex 30 above and just ahead of thetrucks wheel wells 32 and extend rearwardly therefrom a substantialdistance to the rear end portion of the truck bed 34. The guide rails 24and 26 are supported at various places along the length by verticallydisposed members to hold them in their proper spaced relation.

The guide rails 24 and 26 are supported on their forward end by avertical member 36, in the center portion of a straight span by anothervertical member 38, in the apex portion 30 by another vertical member40, and they are connected in the aft portion by connecting members 42and 44. Mounting of the guide rails 24 and 26 can be seen in FIG. 2 andFIG. 3. It is to be noted that the rear end of the guide rails isdivergent slightly so that the rearmost supporting member 44 spans asubstantially wider gap than the other supporting members. The threeforwardmost guide track supporting members 36, 38 and 40, are secured ontheir lower portion to the truck bed 34 and function to hold the guidetracks 22 in their proper upright position.

The camper frame assembly 18 is best described in conjunction with FIGS.2 and 3 where it is shown with the forward end portion thereof slightlyahead of the winch assembly 20. The camper frame assembly I8 includes aforward member 48 secured to the lower for: ward edge of the camper, anaft member 50 secured to the lower rear edge portion of the camper andhaving a box-like structure attached to the lower rear portion of thecamper with a forward box member 52. Elongated members 54 are secured tothe lower side edge portions of the camper and connecting the forwardand aft members 48 and 50 and 52. The camper frame assembly 18 isadapted to be mounted on the lower edge portion of the camper which isnormally adapted to contact a pickup truck bed. The camper shown in thedrawings is one with an indented center portion adapted to fit betweenthe wheel wells of a conventional pickup; however, it should beunderstood the camper loader and unloader apparatus 14 of this inventionis not to be restricted to this type of camper/truck combinationconfiguration alone.

The elongated side members 54 of the camper frame assembly 18 havevertical mount members 58 on the forward ends thereof and rear uprightmount members 56 on the rear thereof to secure the camper frame 18 tothe camper body as can be seen in FIG. 2. The camper 10 is preferablypositively secured to the camper frame assembly 18. Between the forwardand aft camper frame assembly members, 48 and 50, a connector member orchain 60 is mounted as can be seen in FIG. 3. The chain 60 is preferablysecured to the aft portion of the camper frame assembly as indicated at62 and running in a longitudinal relation to the camper along its centerline and secured at the forward member 48 by a chain attaching member 64which can be seen in FIG. 6. The chain 60 is preferably a roller cahinthat is laterally flexible; it can be seen in FIG. 5 in normal position,the rollers thereof horizontally oriented relative to the camper. Inpractice of this invention a chain which is a product of Rex ChainbeltInc., called a SIDE-BOW roller chain, has been found very satisfactory.The chain attaching member 64 is an elongated member which on its lowerend replaces one of the rollers in a chain link and extends upwardthrough the forward camper frame member 48 as can be seen clearly inFIG. 6. The chain attaching member extends through the forward camperframe member 48 and is threaded on the upper portion fitted with a nut66 to allow vertical movement of the chain attaching member 64 in itsaperture in the frame member 48. The aft chain attachment 62 ispreferably adjustable so as to adjust the tension of the chain 60. Thechain 60 is substantially longer than the length of the camper and has alength of unattached chain extending from the chain attaching member 64which is necessary because it is fitted into the winch assembly as willbe described in the hereinafter.

It is to be noted that the winch of this invention is preferablyconstructed to operate with a chain; however, it can be constructed tooperate with a rope, cable or the like and perform the same operationand function in a similar manner. The disclosure ofa chain used with thewinch of this invention is to be understood as not unduly limiting thescope of the camper loader and unloader apparatus of this invention.

A chain storage rack 68 is provided for storage of the additional lengthof unattached chain 67 emanating from the. chain attaching member 64.The storage rack 68 is a curved member visible in FIG. 6 connected between the center portion of the camper frame member 48 and a verticalmember 69. This rack 68 allows the chain 67 to be turned and laid in itonce the chain attaching member 64 has passed through the winch assembly20. The rack 68 is preferably a curved piece of angle like material orthe like which will allow the chain 67 to be easily laid into it andwill retain it there for storage. It is to be noted that the chainattaching member 64 does not interfere with the flexible motion of thechain; it is merely a replacement of one roller by a vertical memberfreely rotatable in the chain assembly and used to hold the chain in theproper position on the bottom of the camper frame assembly 18. Side-bowroller chain is preferred for use in the camper loader and unloader 14since it has a great amount of lateral flexibility and substantialtensile strength.

To aid in moving the camper in either the loading or unloadingoperation, a pair of pivotable type wheels 70 are attached to the bottomof the camper frame 18 on its rear end portion, as can be seen in thedrawings. These wheels support the rear of the camper above the groundand assist alignment and movement of the camper in loading or unloading.Additionally, to aid in easy forward movement of the camper along theguide tracks 22, a pair of rollers 72 are attached to the outside of theforward vertical frame members 58 with the wheels mounted so as to rollin the lower guide tracks 22. The rollers 72 for the guide tracks can beseen in FIG. 6.

When the camper is in the loaded position on the truck 12, the rear endof the camper frame 18 is held in position by the chain 60 being engagedin the winch assembly 20, and on the forward portion thereof it issecured by the camper frame assembly 18 being engaged in a lockingapparatus on the forward end of the truck mounted frame 16. The camperframe assembly 18 has a pair of extended locking members 74 extendingforwardly from the elongated side frame members 54 as can be seenclearly in FIG. 3. The truck mounted frame 16 has a pair of inwardlyextending locking members 76 positioned at the forward end 28 of thetruck mounted frame 16. When the camper 10 is moved into the loadedposition, the camper locking members 74 extend underneath the truckframe locking members 76 thereby preventing upward movement of theforward end of the camper 10 so long as it is in the loaded position.

The winch apparatus is preferably mounted immediately behind the truckbed 34 above the bumper 79 and substantially contained between theupright fenders of the pickup truck as can be seen clearly in FIGS. 4, 5and 6. The winch apparatus 20 includes a winch block 80 supportedbetween conduit members 82 which extend to the outer portions of thetruck, a powering device 84 to operate the winch, and a plurality ofrollers adapted to engage the elongated side members 54 of the camperframe assembly 18. The conduit members 82 are supported by uprightfender engaging members 90 as can be seen in FIG. 6. The fender engagingmembers extend vertically alongside the inner portion of the pickup bedarea and are hooked in the usually existing side board mountingapertures 91 common to most conventional type pickups. The plurality ofrollers has a horizontally oriented roller 86 on each side of the winchassembly and an adjacent vertically oriented roller 88 which inoperation contact the bottom and the side of the elongated camper framemember 54 to guide it into the truck bed. These roller assemblies aresupported above the conduit members 82 and are supported from the truckbed for stability. The powering device 84 consists of a motor and a gearbox supported on one of the conduit members 82 and having a shaftextending inwardly through the conduit members to a sprocket in thewinch block 80.

The winch block 80 is shown in detail in FIGS. 7 and 8, and is comprisedin two connecting portions. The winch block 80 has a sprocket 96rotatably mounted therein connected to a shaft 98 which supports thesprocket through holes 100 in the sides of each winch block half, 92 or94. One passageway 102 extends through the upper portion of winch blockas can be seen in the drawings; the passageway which is adapted to passthe chain and an additional passageway 104 is provided above the chainpassageway 102 between the upper portion 106. The specific shape of thechain passageway 102 is visible in FIG. 8 as is the other passageway104. The upper passageway 104 is adapted to pass the chain attachingmember 64 and is necessarily narrower in width than the chain passageway102 to allow only the chain attaching member 64 to pass through it whileretaining the chain 60 in the chain passageway 102 below. The winchblock is provided with an inclined surface 108 on the upper rear portionthereof. This inclined surface 108 is adapted to be positioned rearwardrelative to the truck 12 so as to give an inclined surface on which theforward camper frame member 48 will move onto. As can be seen in thedrawings, the winch block 80 is constructed in two mirrorimage ormatching portions which are bolted together; these portions arepreferably welded to the conduit support members 82 to hold the winchblock in the proper rigid relation on the back of the truck bed 34. Withthe winch block 80 bolted together, it allows the structure to be openedas necessary for inspection or service.

Immediately adjacent to the rear surface of the winch block 80, a pairof rollers 110 and a chain slide member 112 are provided as a guide forthe chain 60 and as a brace for the forward camper member 48 as it ismoved behind the winch block 80. The chain guide 112 is provided with achain roller 114 positioned in its upper center portion of it toproperly position the chain relative to the entrance to the passageway102 in the winch block. The rollers and chain guide, 110 and 112, arenot in use except when the camper is positioned immediately behind thewinch block 80 as is the case when it is being raised or lowered. Atsuch time the forward camper frame meber 48 will engage the rollers 86and 88 on the winch assembly 20. As a practical matter in practice ithas been found that the rollers and chain guide ease the load on thepowering device 84 in the lifting operation of the camper.

Movement of the chain 60 through the winch block 80 is accomplished byfeeding the end portion of the unattached chain 67 into the passageway102 of the winch block and rotating the sprocket 96 by use of thepowering device 84. Preferably the powering device 84 has an electricalmotor 118 connected to a gear box 120 and mounted on the outer end ofone winch assembly conduit member 82, as shown. The electric motor 118is preferably operable from the electrical system of the truck vehicleby a switching apparatus which is not shown in the drawings but has thecapability of operating the electric motor 118 to rotate in eitherdirection. By necessity, the electric motor 118 and gear box 120 mustrotate in either direction in order to move the chain 60 through thewinch block 80 in either direction as such is necessary to load andunload the camper. In practice it has been found convenient to connectthe electric motor 118 to the electrical system of the truck 12 and havean extension control cord with switches thereon to turn the electricmotor on and off and to control its direction of rotation. With theextension control cord connected to the powering device 84, it enablesone person to load or unload the camper and walk alongside it and aroundit to observe during operation loading or unloading of the camper.

It is to be noted that a powering device using an electric motor isshown in the herein preferred specific embodiment of this invention;however, it is to be understood thasuch powering device can be replacedby a hand operable winch apparatus and function similarly.

In the preferred operation of the camper loading and unloading apparatus14 of this invention when used to load a camper onto the truck, thetruck is first backed into position ahead of the forward end of thecamper. The camper can then be loaded directly from its storage positionresting on the ground by use of the hereindescribed invention. Theappartaus of this invention 14 enables the camper to rest close to theground supported above the ground by the wheels 70 on the rear portionof the camper frame 18 and on the forward end by a supporting block usedto maintain the camper in a level position when in storage. The forwardsupport block is not shown in the drawings because it can be virtuallyany type of block, brick, or whatever placed under the forward portionof the camper when it is unloaded to position the forward portion of thecamper frame assembly will be slightly above the ground preferably at aheight approximating that-of the rear of the camper. It is to be notedthat the camper loading and unloading apparatus 14 of this inventionwill operate to pick the camper up directly from the ground if theforward portion of the camper frame assembly is resting on the ground;however, it has been found that this gets the forward portion of thecamper quite dirty if it is stored resting directly on the ground.

When the truck 12 is backed into position at the forward end of thecamper 10, it need be only generally aligned with the camper 10. Theunattached length of chain 67 stored on the forward portionof the camperframe assembly 18 in the storage rack 68 is removed and inserted intothe winch block 80, and the powering device 84 is then brought intooperation thereby moving that length of chain through the winch block80. As the unattached length of chain 67 moves through the winch block80, it picks up the forward end of the camper; this allows the rearwheels 70 to move the camper into direct alignment with the rear of thepickup bed and the rollers 72 into alignment with the guide tracks 22inside the truck bed. FIG. shows the relative position of the camper andthe back of the truck 12 as the camper 10 is lifted into positionimmediately before the forward portion of the camper passes over thewinch block 80. When the camper is being lifted to this position, thechain 67 moves along the 1 chain guide 112 and over the roller 114 asdescribed above. Just as the forward member of the camper frame assembly48 reaches the winch block 80, it rolls over the rollers 110 therebylifting it onto the inclined surface 108 of the winch block whereuponthe chain attaching member 64 passes through the winch block 80 in itsupper passageway 104, and simultaneously the forward portion of thecamper frame assembly 18 contacts the rollers 86 and 88 thereby restingthe front end of the camper 10 on the truck bed 34 in a smoothoperation. Once the forward end of the camper 10 is on the truck bed, itis essentially in the position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of thedrawings. From this point on, continued operation of the powering devicemoves the chain which is underneath the camper through the winch block80 thereby moving the camper 10 onto the truck bed. As the camper 10moves forward the front end of the camper 10 rises vertically as therear end thereof moves forward and the elongated frame members 54 moveover the rollers 86 and 88. When the forward end of the camper raises,the guide wheels 72 move between the upper and lower rails 24 and 26 ofthe guide track 22 and roll along one or the other of the rails as thecamper moves forward; this guides the camper into the proper relationand spacing in the truck bed area so as to maintain the winch assembly20 in contact with the bottom of the camper frame assembly 18 at alltimes.

The divergent portion of the guide tracks 22 on the rearward end thereofis for the purpose of enabling the camper to be loaded on ground whichis not level. Loading the camper 10 on unlevel ground -will cause theforward end of the camper to be either higher or lower than it would ifit were loaded on level ground, when the forward portion of the camperis to the point where it would engage the guide tracks 22. Preferablythe camper will move forward with the guide wheels rolling on the lowerguide rail 26; however, the upper guide rail 24 is provided as a safetyfeature in the event the camper should be for some reason be tippedrearward thereby raising its forward end.

Soon after the forward portion of the camper moves onto the truck bed,the unattached length of chain 67 can be turned and placed in thestorage rack 68. As the camper 10 moves into the extreme forward portionof the truck bed, the forward extending locking members 74 on the camperframe assembly 18 move underneath the inwardly extending locking members76 on the forward end of the guide tracks; this locks the forward end ofthe camper to the truck bed 34. When the camper is in the loadedposition, it is in the position shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. Duringthe loading operation it is to be noted that the remote extensioncontrol cord for the powering device 84 enables one person to load thecamper during the loading operation, walk around the camper to observeit being loaded. In practice the remote control has been found veryhelpful when loading the camper in a high side wind condition or whenthe camper is not particularly well aligned with the truck; in suchinstance the person operating the camper can push the rear of the camperfrom side to side or hold it so that it aligns properly with the guidetracks as the loading operation progresses.

In the unloading operation of a camper using the camper loading andunloading apparatus 14 of this invention, the procedure described in thepreceding paragraph is essentially reversed. When the powering device 84is operated in the reverse direction, the chain is moved in a rearwarddirection through the winch block 80; this moves the camper rearwardalong the guide tracks 22 upward and rearward so as to lower the rearportion of the camper to the ground whereupon the wheels contact theground and allow the camper to move rearward. The truck during unloadingof the camper can either be still or can move forward at a slow rate.The camper 10 is automatically unlocked from the truck bed 34 as thecamper frame assembly 18 is moved rearward. The remote extension controlfor the powering device allows an operator to move around and supervisethe unloading easily. As the camper moves into the approximate positionshown in FIGS. 2 and 3 when in the unloading operation, the unattachedlength of chain 67 should be removed from the storage rack 68 on theforward portion of the camper frame assembly and laid in the centerportion of the truck bed 34 so that as the chain attaching member 64will move rearward through the winch block and the chain will easilyfollow. When the chain attaching member 64 has moved through the winchblock 80 in the rearward direction, the chain portion 67 holds thecamper 10 as described in the loading operation and similarly lowers itto the ground. Prior to the front portion of the camper frame assembly18 contacting the ground, it has been found in practice advisable toinsert one or two blocks of some sort underneath the forward portion ofthe camper frame assembly 18 which are of sufficient size to support itin approximately a level relation. Once the camper is resting on theground and the unattached length of chain 67 has been fed from the winchapparatus 20, that length of chain can be stored in the rack 68.

In the manufacture of the camper loading and unloading apparatus 14 ofthis invention, it is obvious that the frame thereof can be constructedof sufficient size to safely support, load and unload a camper which isloaded with the various paraphernalia people normally take camping.Additionally, it is obvious that the structure of the camper loading andunloading apparatus 14 of this invention can be constructed and adaptedto fit various makes and models of campers which slide into or ontotruck beds because of their basic similarities in order to achieve theend product.

In the use and operation of the camper loading and unloading apparatus14 of this invention it is seen that same provides a device which allowsone person to load and unload a camper from a truck in a minimum of timeand with a minimal expenditure of effort. The camper loader and unloaderstructure 14 of this invention is constructed so as to prevent unduetipping or shaking motion of the camper 10 as it is being loaded onto atruck and lock the camper 10 on a truck in a loaded position. Also, thecamper loader and unloader apparatus 14 of this invention is providedwith an electric motor powering device 84 adapted to be operated fromthe electrical system of the truck on which the camper is loaded.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description of the applicantscamper loader and unloader apparatus, relatively inexpensive means havebeen provided to load and unload a camper on a truck which can beaccomplished by one person. The camper loader and unloader apparatusstructure is economical to manufacture, easily attached to the popularand conventional style of slide-in camper, simple to use, and is adaptedto move a camper from a storage position on the ground to the loadedposition on the truck in a minimum of time and with a minimum of effort.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with preferredspecific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that thisdescription is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of theinvention, which is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A loading and unloading apparatus, comprising:

a. a first frame means permanently mountable on the lower portion of abox-like structure,

b. a connector member secured to the forward and rear portions of saidfirst frame means and extending therealong,

c. a frame means mountable on a vehicle bed and enagable with said firstframe means, said frame means having means to guide said first framemeans onto said vehicle bed,

d. a winch means attachable to said vehicle bed at the rear end portionthereof and having a winch block means,

e. a powering means having means to engage said connector member to inoperation move said first frame means relative said second frame meansforward and backward,

f. said first frame means has means on theforward end thereof to engagesaid second frame means guide means,

g. said second frame means to guide said first frame means is a trackmeans extending rearward from the forward portion of said vehicle bedand a roller means at the rear of said vehicle bed to engage said firstframe means in vertical and horizontal planes for guiding and ease ofmovement,

h. said connector member has an extended portion continuous with saidsecured portion and extending from one end of said box-like structure,and

i. said winch block means has means to pass said extended portion ofsaid connector member while said same is secured to said first framemeans.

2. The loading and unloading apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein:

a. said first frame means has transverse members on the forward and aftends thereof mountable at the forward and aft end portion of saidbox-like structure and elongated members on the sides thereof connectingsaid forward and aft members mountable on the sides of said box-likestructure,

b. said track means has a pair of rail members mounted in a aspacedrelation extending rearwardly to an apex and downwardly therefromand from said forward end portion of said vehicle bed to the rear endportion thereof,

c. said means to pass said connector member is a friction means and apassageway therein said winch block means to engage said connectormember to pass said secured portion thereof and said extended portionthereof, and

d. said roller means has a plurality of rollers secured to said winchframe means to engage said first frame means at said forward member andsaid elongated members.

3. The loading and unloading apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein:

a. said first frame forward member has an attaching member mountedthereon in a loose fashion to support said connector member and to passwith same through said winch block passageway,

b. said second frame means has a locking means on the forward endportion thereof engagable with said first frame means to hold same inplace on said vehicle bed when said first frame means is in a loadedposition.

0. said rail members extend in an upward direction from the forward endsthereof to the center portion of said vehicle and in a downwarddirection from said center portion to the rear portion of said vehiclebed, and

d. said loading and unloading apparatus has one of said track means oneach side of said vehicle bed.

4. The loading and unloading apparatus as described in claim 3, wherein:

a. said winch block means is secured to said winch frame means,

b. said friction means is a sprocket rotatably mounted in said winchblock means having a portion thereof extending into said passageway soas to engage said connector member and move same,

0. said passageway has a lower passageway extending through said winchblock means and an upper passageway adjacent to said lower passagewaywhich is open on its upper surface to the upper surface of said winchblock means to pass said attaching member, and

d. said powering means is connected to said sprocket by a shaft,

e. said connector member is a roller chain,

f. said first frame means has a ground engaging wheel on said aftportion thereof contractable with the ground when said first frame meansis not in said loaded condition,

g. said locking means has a forwardly extending member on said firstframe means engagable with a transversely extending member on saidsecond frame means, and

h. said first frame means having rollers extended laterally from saidbox-like structure engagable with said rail members for ease of loadingand unloading said box-like structure.

5. A winch means in combination with a box-like structure loading andunloading apparatus having a guide means attached to a vehicle bed, anda frame mountable on said box-like structure adapted to be engaged withsaid guide means, to load and unload same, comprising:

a. a connector member secured to the forward and aft portions of saidframe means, extending thereunder same,

b. a winch block means securable to said vehicle bed,

c. powering means to engage said connector member to in operation loadsaid box-like structure into said vehicle bed and moving said guidemeans into engagement,

d. said connector member is secured in one portion to said frame means,and has an extended portion continuous therewith, extending from one endof same and secured thereto by a semi-flexible attaching member,

e. said winch block means has means to pass said secured portion andsaid extended portion of said connector member,

f. said winch means has a frame means mounting said winch block means,

g. said means to pass said conductor member is a friction means and apassageway therein said winch block means to engage and move saidconnector member,

h. said powering means is connected to said friction means,

. said winch block passageway has a lower passageway portiontherethrough to pass said connector member and an upper passagewayportion open on its upper portion adapted to pass said chain attachingmember, and j. said friction member is a sprocket rotatably mounted insaid winch block means and having a portion thereof extending into saidlower passageway.

6. The combination of a truck bed having a camper guiding and mountingframe means, a camper having a frame means on the lower portion thereofengagable with said camper guiding and mounting frame means on saidtruck bed, and a winch appartaus having a winch block powering meansmounted on said truck bed and a chain secured to said camper framemeans, wherein the combination comprises:

a. said camper guiding means secured to said truck bed having from theforward end thereof a rearwardly extending track having a centrallyraised apex with a pair of spaced rail-like members, and having a rollermeans secured to the rear portion of said truck bed to engage saidcamper frame means in vertical and horizontal planes for ease ofmovement and centering in said truck bed,

b. said camper frame means secured to the underneath side of said camperhaving transverse members on the forward and aft end portions thereof,with longitudinal members on the side portion thereof, roller memberssecured to said side portions thereof engagable with said truck forguiding movement, and with a chain secured on the bottom thereofextending substantially the lenth thereof,

c. said winch apparatus having said winch block and said powering meansmounted on the rear end portion of said truck bed, said winch blockpositioned to align with said chain, said winch block having a sprocketrotatably mounted therein and passageways therethrough to receive andpass said chain, said powering means operably connected to said sprocketto rotate same.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,168, (378 Dated 7 October 30, 1973 Inventor) erald P. Tfoungers It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the Abstract, line 6, "caloe" should read cable Column 1, line 0,after "like" insert and line 5h, after "rear" insert end Column 2, line50, after "top insert plan line an, "operation" should read operatingColumn 3, line l, "draings" should read drawings line L l, after "end"insert portion Column 11,, line, 17, "cahin" should read chain Column 5,line 5'8, "members" should read member line on, "or" should read and IColumn 6, line 35, "meber" should read member Column 7, line 1,"thasuch" should read that such Claim 1, paragraph (0), line 2,"enagable" should read engagable Claim paragraph 7 (c), line 3, after"vehicle" insert bed Claim 5, line 3, after "frame" insert meansparagraph (5;), line 1, conductor" should read connector a UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE Page .2 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,7 7 Dated tr 3 973 Inventor(s) (Jerald P '[ounger's It is certified that errorappears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent arehereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 6, paragraph (b) line 8, "lenth" should read length Signed andsealed this 30th da of April 197E.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Atte sting; Officer Commissionerof Patents FOR PO-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60876-P69 i U. 5 GOVERNMENTPRINTING OFFICE "II OJO-33l.

1. A loading and unloading apparatus, comprising: a. a first frame meanspermanently mountable on the lower portion of a box-like structure, b. aconnector member secured to the forward and rear portions of said firstframe means and extending therealong, c. a frame means mountable on avehicle bed and engagable with said first frame means, said frame meanshaving means to guide said first frame means onto said vehicle bed, d. awinch means attachabLe to said vehicle bed at the rear end portionthereof and having a winch block means, e. a powering means having meansto engage said connector member to in operation move said first framemeans relative said second frame means forward and backward, f. saidfirst frame means has means on the forward end thereof to engage saidsecond frame means guide means, g. said second frame means to guide saidfirst frame means is a track means extending rearward from the forwardportion of said vehicle bed and a roller means at the rear of saidvehicle bed to engage said first frame means in vertical and horizontalplanes for guiding and ease of movement, h. said connector member has anextended portion continuous with said secured portion and extending fromone end of said boxlike structure, and i. said winch block means hasmeans to pass said extended portion of said connector member while sameis secured to said first frame means.
 2. The loading and unloadingapparatus as described in claim 1, wherein: a. said first frame meanshas transverse members on the forward and aft ends thereof mountable atthe forward and aft end portion of said box-like structure and elongatedmembers on the sides thereof connecting said forward and aft membersmountable on the sides of said box-like structure, b. said track meanshas a pair of rail members mounted in a spaced relation extendingrearwardly to an apex and downwardly therefrom and from said forward endportion of said vehicle bed to the rear end portion thereof, c. saidmeans to pass said connector member is a friction means and a passagewaytherein said winch block means to engage said connector member to passsaid secured portion thereof and said extended portion thereof, and d.said roller means has a plurality of rollers secured to said winch framemeans to engage said first frame means at said forward member and saidelongated members.
 3. The loading and unloading apparatus as describedin claim 2, wherein: a. said first frame forward member has an attachingmember mounted thereon in a loose fashion to support said connectormember and to pass with same through said winch block passageway, b.said second frame means has a locking means on the forward end portionthereof engagable with said first frame means to hold same in place onsaid vehicle bed when said first frame means is in a loaded position. c.said rail members extend in an upward direction from the forward endsthereof to the center portion of said vehicle bed and in a downwarddirection from said center portion to the rear portion of said vehiclebed, and d. said loading and unloading apparatus has one of said trackmeans on each side of said vehicle bed.
 4. The loading and unloadingapparatus as described in claim 3, wherein: a. said winch block means issecured to said winch frame means, b. said friction means is a sprocketrotatably mounted in said winch block means having a portion thereofextending into said passageway so as to engage said connector member andmove same, c. said passageway has a lower passageway extending throughsaid winch block means and an upper passageway adjacent to said lowerpassageway which is open on its upper surface to the upper surface ofsaid winch block means to pass said attaching member, and d. saidpowering means is connected to said sprocket by a shaft, e. saidconnector member is a roller chain, f. said first frame means has aground engaging wheel on said aft portion thereof contractable with theground when said first frame means is not in said loaded condition, g.said locking means has a forwardly extending member on said first framemeans engagable with a transversely extending member on said secondframe means, and h. said first frame means having rollers extendedlaterally from said box-like structure engagable with said rail membersfor ease of loading and unloading said box-like structure.
 5. A winchmeAns in combination with a box-like structure loading and unloadingapparatus having a guide means attached to a vehicle bed, and a framemeans mountable on said box-like structure adapted to be engaged withsaid guide means, to load and unload same, comprising: a. a connectormember secured to the forward and aft portions of said frame means,extending thereunder same, b. a winch block means securable to saidvehicle bed, c. powering means to engage said connector member to inoperation load said box-like structure into said vehicle bed and movingsaid guide means into engagement, d. said connector member is secured inone portion to said frame means, and has an extended portion continuoustherewith, extending from one end of same and secured thereto by asemi-flexible attaching member, e. said winch block means has means topass said secured portion and said extended portion of said connectormember, f. said winch means has a frame means mounting said winch blockmeans, g. said means to pass said connector member is a friction meansand a passageway therein said winch block means to engage and move saidconnector member, h. said powering means is connected to said frictionmeans, i. said winch block passageway has a lower passageway portiontherethrough to pass said connector member and an upper passagewayportion open on its upper portion adapted to pass said chain attachingmember, and j. said friction member is a sprocket rotatably mounted insaid winch block means and having a portion thereof extending into saidlower passageway.
 6. The combination of a truck bed having a camperguiding and mounting frame means, a camper having a frame means on thelower portion thereof engagable with said camper guiding and mountingframe means on said truck bed, and a winch apparatus having a winchblock powering means mounted on said truck bed and a chain secured tosaid camper frame means, wherein the combination comprises: a. saidcamper guiding means secured to said truck bed having from the forwardend thereof a rearwardly extending track having a centrally raised apexwith a pair of spaced rail-like members, and having a roller meanssecured to the rear portion of said truck bed to engage said camperframe means in vertical and horizontal planes for ease of movement andcentering in said truck bed, b. said camper frame means secured to theunderneath side of said camper having transverse members on the forwardand aft end portions thereof, with longitudinal members on the sideportion thereof, roller members secured to said side portions thereofengagable with said truck for guiding movement, and with a chain securedon the bottom thereof extending substantially the length thereof, c.said winch apparatus having said winch block and said powering meansmounted on the rear end portion of said truck bed, said winch blockpositioned to align with said chain, said winch block having a sprocketrotatably mounted therein and passageways therethrough to receive andpass said chain, said powering means operably connected to said sprocketto rotate same.